Rota has first say on legalization
The people of Rota will be the first to make official public comments on the legalization of marijuana in the CNMI. I was recently informed that the public hearings on the Senate bill are tentatively scheduled to begin on Rota during the week of March 16. I find it poetic that the segment of CNMI society who is suffering the most and stand the most to gain from legalization will be the first to speak out on the issue of legalization. Indeed, Rota may set the tone for all the public hearings, which is why it is imperative for the people to turn out in large numbers. Given the many certified polls and surveys that prove the majority of Americans in the mainland now support legalization, I would like to believe the overwhelming majority on Rota will also support legalization for a number of reasons.
Rota is in the unique position to become the epicenter for starting change, growth, and prosperity that are trademarks of the new marijuana industry. I’m sure the citizens of Rota who are informed about marijuana and tired of seeing their island turn into a ghost town will surely come out to support legalization for all uses, not just medical. There is also the fact that if the moratorium approach to full legalization as I proposed is accepted and used, Rota will be one of the primary cultivation sites of marijuana as Saipan has a very limited capacity and it will take tons to satisfy the tremendous appetite for marijuana once it is on the menu. The farmers on Rota will also become rich and even millionaires if this industry continues to grow at the present rate. If you are tired of Rota’s deteriorating conditions then attend the public hearing and supporting legalization.
The only question to be answered is will the people come out and support legalization or will they just “let it be” because we know that doing nothing to promote change and embracing the past will get us nowhere quick, fast, and in a hurry! People, especially our youth, are leaving because the CNMI is so far behind the times when we should be pursuing and embracing modern times. Rota can start this change or let opportunity pass them by like the ships and airplanes already do every day between Guam and Saipan. Rota can be the gateway to the CNMI but only if the people want to make it happen. This is your chance, Rota!
We can all join together to promote change and improvements through legalization or we can all continue to live in the past and squander the prosperity of legalization that is the core of the American dream. Freedom and prosperity are pillars of America and the American dream. The freedom to use a natural God-given herb, which is the least addictive of all the vices including cigarettes and the ability to make hundreds of millions should be enough prosperity to make the people of Rota come out in large numbers to support legalization. The great part about the people making a show of support for legalization is that you don’t have to say a word or even display a sign because here in the CNMI, just being there in large numbers will be enough for our leaders to get the message. They will know why you are there. But a failure to turn out in large numbers to support legalization will surely send the message that you are satisfied with the suffering and deterioration of your economy and quality of life on Rota. The legalization ball is pitched to you on Rota first, so many of us on Saipan and Tinian are depending upon you to start this economic reform to legalize pot by hitting it out of the park with a full show of support for full legalization (medical, medicinal, and recreational).
P.S.: I am asking any member of the Legislature, any organization or group that is interested in sponsoring a debate on legalization to please contact me; I’m listed in the phone book. A debate would also be a good fundraising activity as I’m sure people will even pay to see a truly long overdue debate on legalization in the CNMI. I know it will be very helpful for our leaders and the people to be educated as much as possible on this critical issue as there is just too much money and prosperity at stake.
Ambrose M Bennett
Kagman, Saipan
Ambrose why don’t you keep your marijuana and casinos on Saipan and leave Rota alone. We don’t need anymore dope heads in the CNMI.
The bill’s ONLY intent is focused on the medical issue alone and not the recreational or economical issue as portrayed by Ambros in his above article. He seems to be riding on a compassionate bill with his own agenda in regards to full legalization. In short, he is confusing the general population.
In agreement if it’s limited to medicinal purposes only.
Who would enforce such arrangement? And for such predicament, we are strongly lobbying against it and we have our votes against it at the senate. The intent is promising, but knowing how things are done is sickening.
Jun,
The government will enforce and regulate and control the cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana to make sure that MMJ is safe to consume and that the strain given to the patients are documented for effectiveness in their treatment. It does not matter who does the task as this is not a socio-economic issue at all. So any argument to the current senate bill’s intent regarding the socio-economic factors are irrelevant to the fact. This is not for everyone in the CNMI, except everyone that is sick that may benefit from medical marijuana.
Please elaborate on “how things are done is sickening” as you say, as the sick and dying people want to know. As far as we, the caring people and family members and friends of the suffering know, no one else is doing a damn thing in finding and applying solutions for the sick and dying People of the CNMI. So please enlighten us.
What is sickening is that when a solution is found to be promising to remedy a problem and the results are found to be the opposite due to ignorance. In this case, anyone who opposes the current medical marijuana bill has the same accountability in gathering all the sick and dying and pushing them over Banzai Cliff. Now, who would like to step up for the first push?
FACT：MARIJUANA…THE MAIN PSYCHOACTIVE (MIND ALTERING) CHEMICAL IS DELTA-9 TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL OR THC……ALSO CHECK LATEST UPDATE …NIH NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE…GOV.PUBLICATION
Fact: Besides THC being used as medicine, Cannabidiol (CBD – non-psychoactive) is also the other main compound in cannabis that is proven to have beneficial properties for medical treatment. With this said, the bill’s ONLY intent is focused on the medical issue alone and not the recreational or economical issue as portrayed by Ambros in his above article. He seems to be riding on a compassionate bill with his own agenda in regards to full legalization. In short, he is confusing the general population.
Mr. Bennett, this one issue you definitely got right.
My fellow brothers and sisters. The senate medical Cannabis bill ONLY involves the sick and it should be treated as a medical issue alone and not as a socio-economical issue as others expect or perceive it to be. This is a bill for compassion, not economics. A dying person could care less about millions of dollars when their life is at stake. We have one of the highest rates of cancer and other debilitating cases per capita and we are obligated as a society to find solutions for treatment. The approach of this bill is pragmatic as it focuses on its intent: to offer an alternative (safer and effective) option for treatment (with medical cannabis) and to make sure that those who will provide and use the treatment will be protected (from arrest). Nothing more. Nothing less. Before the public hearing, get educated. Please Google “cannabinoids and cancer”, for example, and you WILL SEE what cannabis can do for a person’s suffering and possibly a cure not just for cancer but for other medical conditions. I always ask people who are in conflict with their convictions regarding medical cannabis: If costly and painful conventional treatment and medicine does little to nothing to alleviate your loved one’s pain and suffering and you were given an alternative option that is safer and beneficial to relieve their suffering and that may possibly “cure” their disease, what would you do? Would you make your decision based on your belief or medical science?Would you deny them their wish to live a healthier, longer and happier life? If not, then let us grant them their god-given right to life. Let us grant them their wish for a second chance to live again.
MMJ Regulation and controls will be tasked by the health department similar to the 24 U.S. states, D.C. and Guam. Due to marijuana’s very low toxicity level and being non-fatal, overdose will not even be an issue as there has never been a case of fatality caused by Cannabis. This gives patients control over their dosages according to their needs. In fact, Cannabis is considered the safest therapeutic substance known to man to alleviate pain and treat those suffering from serious medical conditions with little to no side effects. However, there is a limit on purchases and the amount a patient is allowed to possess.
Cultivation and distribution of MMJ will be licensed and regulated to strict standards and controls similar to the U.S. Whether it will be privately or government cultivated and distributed is beside the point as long as the MMJ is tested for impurities and other contaminants and that it will be SAFE and ACCESSIBLE for the patients. This bill has NOTHING to do with economics vs. the medical treatment for the sick. All the MMJ patients of the CNMI will not be able to generate the revenues to justify an economical standpoint compared to the U.S. MMJ programs. In fact, most patients that will qualify probably have limited financial resources, and a category will probably have to be created for
distribution to grant them discounts so as not to discourage them from receiving
treatment. Maybe, even for FREE! As I stated before, a sick and dying person could care less about money when their life is at stake.
As to those you mention who may be lobbying or have interests to this bill, has it ever occurred that just taking care and treating those who need medical help is sufficient enough as it is our obligation to do so as a compassionate society? I hope this helps.
***Ignorance to be compassionate, especially for the sick and dying will breed death like a plague***
Bet your bottom dollars, that the few and the connected would benefit monetary from the medicinal marijuana proposal. It takes the House, the Senate and governor’s signature to make it happen. And passing it at the senate would be next to impossible.